Triple Murder of elderly family (73, 74, 97) during home invasion in Newton MA

June 27, 2023
Christopher Ferguson, 41, appeared via Zoom in Newton District Court for the first time since his arrest Tuesday morning in connection with the deaths of Gilda "Jill" and Bruno D'Amore, ages 73 and 74, and Jill's 97-year-old mother, Lucia Arpino, who were stabbed and beaten.

Sometime overnight Saturday into Sunday, Christopher Ferguson, 41, allegedly broke into Jill and Bruno's Newton, Massachusetts, home through a window in the basement and brutally killed all three of them in what authorities say appears to be a botched, random home invasion. He lived in the neighborhood and was known to law enforcement.

Jill and Bruno were killed a day – maybe even hours – before they were scheduled to renew their wedding vows for their 50th anniversary at the Sacred Heart and Our Lady's Collaborative church in Newton, where they were active parishioners and never missed 10 a.m. Sunday Mass. Because they were not at church, a friend went to check on them and found the crime scene.

The parish's pastor, the Rev. Dan Riley, told Fox News Digital on Monday that they were "salt of the Earth, the greatest people you'd ever meet. … They're going to be horribly missed."

Newton triple-murder suspect paces during arraignment in random home invasion

Christopher Ferguson, the suspect in a Newton, Massachusetts, triple murder, pleaded not guilty after he allegedly killed a family in what seems to be a botched home invasion.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Mel70]

June 25, 2923
Christopher Ferguson, 41, appeared via Zoom in Newton District Court for the first time since his arrest Tuesday morning in connection with the deaths of Gilda "Jill" and Bruno D'Amore, ages 73 and 74, and Jill's 97-year-old mother, Lucia Arpino, who were stabbed and beaten.

Sometime overnight Saturday into Sunday, Christopher Ferguson, 41, allegedly broke into Jill and Bruno's Newton, Massachusetts, home through a window in the basement and brutally killed all three of them in what authorities say appears to be a botched, random home invasion. He lived in the neighborhood and was known to law enforcement.

Jill and Bruno were killed a day – maybe even hours – before they were scheduled to renew their wedding vows for their 50th anniversary at the Sacred Heart and Our Lady's Collaborative church in Newton, where they were active parishioners and never missed 10 a.m. Sunday Mass. Because they were not at church, a friend went to check on them and found the crime scene.

The parish's pastor, the Rev. Dan Riley, told Fox News Digital on Monday that they were "salt of the Earth, the greatest people you'd ever meet. … They're going to be horribly missed."

Newton triple-murder suspect paces during arraignment in random home invasion

Christopher Ferguson, the suspect in a Newton, Massachusetts, triple murder, pleaded not guilty after he allegedly killed a family in what seems to be a botched home invasion.

www.foxnews.com

That is INFURIATING!!! Killing 3 elderly people. And the couple was going to renew their vows. This is awful. How sad. To make it your "Golden Years". And have some idiot murder you.

 

[Mel70]

Thank you @noZme for starting this thread.

 

[GrandmaBear]

He was known to law enforcement it says. I suspect like we see ALL of the time the man likely should have been incarcerated but wasn't. I'd like to know what his record is...

Anyone else doubt this was the first time he harmed anyone?

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Suspect in deadly home invasion blogged downfall from USC grad to mental blackouts

Christopher Ferguson, the suspect in the Newton, Massachusetts, triple-murder home invasion, wrote a blog post in 2020 about his struggles with bipolar disorder.

www.foxnews.com

Published June 30, 2023 7:30am EDT
By Chris Eberhart | Fox News

Three years before Christopher Ferguson allegedly killed three people in what appears to be a random home invasion in Newton, Massachusetts, he wrote about his struggles with bipolar disorder.

He compared his diagnosis to a game of "Pac-Man." He said he sees himself as the arcade character who disappears when it runs off the screen on either side and "for a split second … is off the screen entirely."

"Imagine depression on the left and mania on the right side of this centerline," Ferguson purportedly wrote in a 2020 Medium essay.

"When life has pushed me too far in either direction, typically when manic, there have been times that have created a temporary suspension of reality in which I have, for all intents and purposes, disappeared from this analogic video game screen, or in my estimation been psychotically G-O-N-E."

It's unknown what – if any – specific event triggered a possible manic episode or if he had a mental breakdown before the alleged fatal confrontation with Gilda "Jill" D'Amore 73, and Bruno D'Amore, 74, and Jill's 97-year-old mother, Lucia Arpino, who were stabbed and beaten over the weekend.

His lawyer never mentioned a mental health diagnosis during Tuesday's arraignment, but Ferguson was like a real-life Pac-Man during his virtual court appearance via Zoom as he paced back and forth in the jail room while the prosecutor detailed the allegations.

He frequently came in and out of view of the camera. At times, he stood against the far wall; other times, he stared straight into the camera through a glass window.

His lawyer, Dmitry Lev, said in a statement, "We express our deepest condolences to the D'Amore and Arpino families in the face of this unimaginable tragedy."

"However, it is important that this case proceeds in the court of law rather than in the court of public opinion. We respectfully request that the legal process be given the opportunity to unfold in due course as we navigate through the system."

Meanwhile, the church-going family were lifelong residents of Newton who never missed 10 a.m. mass.

Pope Francis called their local pastor from Rome to tell him he's praying for the victims, along with Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, who said they died in "brutal and senseless murders."

"They loved Christ and the Church. On the day of their murders, Gilda and Bruno were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at Our Lady Help of Christians. They lived their Catholic faith proudly and in service to the Church," said O’Malley, who plans to offer Mass for the victims at St. Peter’s Basilica.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lengthy article at link. ~Summer

 

[Summer_Breeze]

MSN

Story by John R. Ellement • 1h ago
The Boston Globe

Christopher L. Ferguson Jr. is now being housed at the Bridgewater State Hospital for competency evaluation while he awaits trial in connection with the slayings of three family members in their Newton home, officials said Friday.

Ferguson is charged with first degree murder in the stabbing death of Gilda D’Amore, 73. He is also charged with brutally attacking her husband, Bruno D’Amore, 74, and her mother, Lucia Arpino, 97, inside their home at 49 Broadway early on Sunday. He is expected to face murder charges when autopsies are completed on Bruno D’Amore and Arpino.

A not guilty plea to all charges was entered on behalf of the 41-year-old Ferguson in Newton District Court on Tuesday where he was ordered held without bail and placed in the custody of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department.

Jail medical staff concluded he needed a competency evaluation and invoked a state law that allow jail officials to send detainees to Bridgewater, a hospital run by the Department of Correction, officials told the Globe.

“Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) is a medium security facility housing male patients in two categories: civil commitments without criminal sentences, and on occasion, pre-trial detainees sent for competency and criminal responsibility evaluations by the court,’’ according to the DOC summary.

<snip>

Dmitry Lev, Ferguson’s court-appointed attorney, did not immediately respond Friday when asked about the transfer of his client, whom friends have said has struggled with mental health issues for decades. His family has also tried to get appropriate help for him, according to friends.

Lev was given court approval for up to $5,000 to hire a psychologist to help him prepare Ferguson’s defense. “I have become aware of certain psychological issues that may have an impact on the defendant’s case,’' he wrote in court papers.

The court also approved $3,500 for an expert in footprint analysis, according to court records.

“The Commonwealth has disclosed that there is anticipated footprint evidence in this matter,” Lev wrote. “Defense counsel will need to have an expert examine the reports and other evidence in order to challenge the Commonwealth’s conclusions and to have such expert available to testify at trial regarding the same. “

 

[Mel70]

He was known to law enforcement it says. I suspect like we see ALL of the time the man likely should have been incarcerated but wasn't. I'd like to know what his record is...

Anyone else doubt this was the first time he harmed anyone?

He77 no!!! An article says he was diagnosed as "Bipolar" And was in a "Manic episode" Since February. Really?! But no intervention?. Here we go with another insanity plea. He was their neighbor. He went through a bad separation. O.K. AND?! I have too. Very, Very bad. Yeah. Why don't I just go completely out of control and do something?. Because I am responsible for my actions. I'm soooo tired of these cases. Excuses. I've had struggles with mental illness since I was a teenager. But I do what I am told by my doctors, Mental Health professionals to do. I try hard every day. So with my diagnosis' I could use it as an excuse. No, it's a reason for things that I am working on. These people don't. I don't give ANY of them a pass.

 

[Mel70]

Oh. And I am open and honest about myself. He could have had a mental breakdown. Yeah. Me too. Numerous times without hurting anyone or being hospitalized. Except for 2 times at 19 when I wasn't diagnosed yet. It was beneficial to me to be there and find out and get treatment. Because I didn't know what was wrong. I was going to counseling. But it wasn't enough. Again. Taking Responsibility.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Medical examiner determines Newton residents died from 'sharp and blunt force' injuries

The findings could mean that Christopher Ferguson, of Newton, will face more charges related to the murders soon.

www.boston.com

By Ross Cristantiello
July 3, 2023

The man charged with killing one of the three Newton residents found dead in their home last week could soon be facing new charges related to the other two deaths.

<snip>

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said at the time that only an autopsy for Gilda D’Amore was completed, and therefore Ferguson was only charged with her murder. Ryan said she expected more charges in the future once the other two autopsies were complete.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has now determined that Arpino died from “sharp and blunt force injuries,” with her manner of death being homicide, The Boston Globe reported. Bruno D’Amore died from “multiple sharp and blunt force injuries,” the office told the Globe, and his manner of death was also ruled a homicide.

Bruno and Gilda D’Amore were scheduled to attend church services that Sunday morning in Newton to renew their wedding vows in honor of their 50th anniversary, officials said. When they did not show, a friend went to their house and discovered the gruesome crime scene.

Gilda D’Amore suffered more than 30 injuries, primarily to the upper part of her body and her head. Arpino was found with a knife embedded in her body, according to a statement of probable cause.

 

[GrandmaBear]

They said he lived in the area and was know to law enforcement. Have we heard of his prior record then if any? Is this yet another one who shouldh't have been free to do this? I want to know. Is their blood not only on his hands but also on prosecutors and judges, etc.?

These were vicious brutal murders. I find it pretty difficult to believe this is the first time in his life he went from zero to 100 and harmed someone. He is 41 and was known to LE.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Man accused of killing 3 elderly Newton residents is 'not competent' to stand trial due to mental illness, judge rules

Christopher Ferguson, 41, allegedly killed Gilda and Bruno D'Amore and Gilda's mother, Lucia Arpino, in their Newton home on June 25.

www.boston.com

Man accused of killing 3 elderly Newton residents is ‘not competent’ to stand trial due to mental illness, judge rules​

A Newton District Court judge decided Monday that Christopher Ferguson, the man accused of killing three elderly Newton residents in their home in late June, is “not competent” enough to stand trial for murder due to his mental illness.

Soon after Ferguson was arrested on June 26, it was revealed that he had a long history of mental illness. He suffers from bipolar disorder, and had reportedly been in a manic episode since February.

On Monday, Judge Jennifer Queally ruled Ferguson incompetent to stand trial for the killings based on a medical evaluation completed last week. She decided Ferguson should stay at Bridgewater State Hospital, a Department of Correction mental health treatment center where he is currently being held.

Despite the judge’s decision, Ferguson’s lawyer Dmitri Lev told The Boston Globe he expects his client to be indicted by a grand jury in the next few weeks. If that happens, a Superior Court judge would need to choose whether to accept Queally’s competency decision or order a new psychiatric evaluation.

If Ferguson was still deemed incompetent to stand trial at that point, Lev said he would be reevaluated every six months, the Globe reported. That process could continue indefinitely, he said, but were Ferguson ever to pass a competency evaluation, he would then be tried.

 

[Mel70]

BULL****!!!! No responsibility!!!! Since February. Uh huh. Then why was there no intervention?!!!! Known to Police!!! There would be mandatory 72 hour evaluation. And if he was like that, He would be in a locked unit for an undetermined amount of time already.

 

[Mel70]

In his selfie he looks really under duress. POS!!!